Tainted Hearts

..Please Stay, Don't Go..

".. Alex..?"

The spirit turned to face the demon, his eyes were brimming with tears, he forced a smile.

"..... Yeah..?"

"Wh- What's up?"

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..
...
....

"... I'm fading."

There was a moment of silence. Fading? What did he meant by fading? Was this another of his jokester prank?

".. What are you talking about?"

Alex glitched for a moment, he forced a chuckle.

"It is what it is, I'm fading."

Andrew didn't know how to react or to feel, what was happening? What did he really meant?!

"Stop with your jokes, now isn't the right time. Now come on! Help me break this thing off!"

Andrew resumed on his attempt to break down the sphere, yet the spirit didn't move as he stood still enduring the pain. He glitched again as it was getting worse every second.

"Alex! Hey, what are y—"

The spirit shifted into his physical state, losing balance as he fell down. The demon quickly went up to the spirit with concern.

"Hey! What the hell is happening?!"

"... You see, bud. Great power obtained by a great cost.."

Andrew was drowned in the ocean of emotions, it was overwhelming him. What was happening to his friend?

"The hell are you talking about, stop spouting nonsense!"

"... You see, vengeful spirits' purpose is to eradicate their source of hate..."

"..."

"And if their source of hate died or no longer in this world.."

"No..."

"... They'll be stuck in this world until they fade.."

The spirit's voice was shaky, he was trying not to break down in his final moment.

"You... I... WE HAVE TO FIND IT THEN, RIGHT?!"

Andrew rose his voice, startling the spirit. Yet, Alex made his painful smile once again visible.

".. It's useless.. he died a long time ago."

This confirmation struck Andrew hard, and for the first time, the demon was panicking. The demon, shaking, tried to find a word, yet only a blow of wind came out.

"... We were having the moment of our life or afterlife minutes ago... who could've known it was my last one.. Hah?"

"NO, DON'T SAY THAT!"